Dirigible headlight



Sept. 15, 193i. A. CH-ABROL I l,822; 8 82 nraxersm HEADLIGHT Filed Oct. 9. 1929 I I .I

I'm I Alphcnse chqbrol By Attamay. i

v headlight bracket pertaining to the vehicle, cover.

Patented Sept. 15, 1931 1 7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC ALPI -IONSE CHABROL, OF AIXE-SUR-VIENNE, FRANCE DIRIGIIBLE HEADLIGHT 'Application filed October 9, 1929, Serial No. 398,287, and in France October 9, 1928.

The present invention has for its object parts, specified in the order of their asseman apparatus for converting stationary headbling. lights into rotatable headlights by enabling The lower side of the flange of the socket them to rotate about a vertical axis passing 7 is in contact with the annular central part, i through the illuminant. forming a cover, of a lever 10. In the lower 50 "The said apparatus is essentially charface of this central part is an annular groove acterized by the fact that the shank of the 11 cooperating with a corresponding 'rib usual headlight is mounted on a bearing brass provided on the cooperating face of the caswhichiisrotatable in a casing secured to the ing 1, and this combination forms a jointwhich bearing brass is also subjectedto a va- In the outer end of the lever is a slot friable braking action. '12 serving as a fork, into which extends the In the accompanying drawings and by way threaded rod 13 of a ball member 14.; this of example: latter is held against rotation by two parallel 15 one-halfin vertical section, a constructional ball member 14, and said flat places cooperate form of the apparatus according to ,the inwith grooves 15 formed in one face of said vention. fork and which are parallel with the, sides of Fig.2 shows the same apparatus,one-half the slot 12. On the other face of the fork in plan view and one-half in horizontal secis aconcave part 16 in which is engaged tion on a plane passing through 'A-A of the notched base of a nut 17 screwing upon Figure 1. the threaded rod 13 of the ball memberl t. The apparatus in conformity to the inven- Said nut is provided with wings for its rotation consists essentially of a cylindrical cas- 10I1.

ing'l which is open at both ends; said cas- At the side of the arm 10 is a cylindrical ing comprises at the exterior suitable securboss 18 whose axis is perpendicular to the ing means '(two lugs 2) by which it ay be axis of the ball rod 1 1, which axes are in mounted on the-bracket of the vehicle. On a common plane perpendicular to the fork the said case are further provided external 12- In the bore of the said boss is an'elastic 30 bosses whose object will be'further explained. push-piece 19 whose inner end, under the ac- The edge of the upper aperture of the non of a spring 20, mayengage the notches case 1 is bordered by a circular shoulder or f he nut 17, thus holding it agalnst rotacontact portion 3. and in its bore are mounted tlon. The spring 20 is in contact with the two contact surfaces 4-5 for ball-bearings. plug 21, and the push-piece 19 may be drawn 3 The lower end of the said bore is screwout by acting upon the knob 22 at its end. threaded. In the said casing 1, which forms The ball 14, thus controlled, may receive a bearing, the brass carrying the shank of one end of a couplingbar connecting the two the headlight is rotatable on its vertical axis. headlights of a vehicle, or other device 1m- The said brass consists of a cylindrical parting the motion.

40 socket 6 having at the top an external flange The central annular part of the lever 10 7. Said socket 6 comprises a tapered interrests upon the internal ring (or race) of a nal shoulder 8, and at the exterior of the set of balls 23; the outer ring (or race) for casing 1 it has an aperture 9 for the passage the same is mounted in the upper bearing of the electric wires leading to the headlight. member 4 of the casing 1 in such manner as 45 On said socket 6 are disposedthe following to support it below its PIOjGCtlOIl 3. The

Fig. 1 represents one-half in elevation and flat places formed on the lower part of said so Fill stationary, since it pertains to the ball-bearing can be held against straight mo tion by a set screw or by a bolt entering the two wings 24, pertaining to said casing 1; said wings 24 are separated by a slot 25 formed in the wall of this latter.

The inner ring of the ball-bearing rests upon a sleeve 26, keyed to a central socket 6, and to this effect the sleeve 26 is provided, in a plane perpendicular to its axis and outside this latter, with a keyway or recess 27, which also extends into the wall of said axial socket 6. A cut out portion 28 is formed on the outer face of the sleeve 26, thus forming a contact surface perpendicular to the axis of the cylindrical keyway used for the round key 29; in the latter is a round notch or recess 30 whose radius corresponds to that of the internal bore of the socket 6.

In these conditions, the key 29' being in position and the shank of the headlight being inserted into the socket 6, it is simply necessary to screw the nut 31 upon the threaded part of said key 29. in order that the latter will hold together the said shank, the socket 6, and the outer sleeve 26 of the latter. Access may be had to the said nut 31 through the wall of the casing 1, by means oi an aperture in the boss 33, which is normally closed by a; screw plug '34.

The sleeve 26 rests upon the inner ring of a ball-bearing 35, the outer ring being engaged with the second contact surface 5 o f said casing 1.

Below the ball-bearing 35 is provided a friction cone 86 whose apex is downwardly situated; said cone 3 6 is secured to the central socket 6 by a key or the like. A nut 37 and a lock nut 38 hold the said cone 36 upon the socket 6.

The outer surface of the friction cone 36 rests upon a braking washer 89 having a tapered surface, and said washer (of fibre, fcrrodo or the like) contained in a ring i0 having an L-section (or other) which ser es as a metallic frame, and the said frame 40 is held in place by a screw 41 mounted in one of the bosses of the casing 1.

In contact with the inner face oi he latter are the elastic elements which regul te the braking pressure. and these may consist spiral springs d2 disposed in recesses 43 having vertical axes, formed in screw pressure ring 44; said ring is screwed into the lower tapped bore of the casing 1, and according to its position, it exercises by means of the springs 42 agreater or less pressure upon the tapered friction surfaces of the elements 36-39; the element 36 is whereas the element 39', being se i-ire the headlight-carrying socket 3a 7 The ring 44 is held its adjust position by a screw 45 traversing a lateral boss of the casing 1. i 7

Due to the adjustable automatic braking of the rotation of the socket 6, this arrangement obviates all. vibration of the illuminant or its device which may be caused by the steering action.

In a modified construction, the ball bearing 35 can be eliminated, and herein the tapered friction member 36, secured to said socket 6, may be replaced by a tapered surface formed directly upon the said sleeve 26.

I claim:

1. A support for a headlight which comprises a stationary part, a rotary part carried by and arranged in said stationary part, ball bearings interposed between said parts, means associated with the rotary part for attaching the headlight, and means for actuating said rotary part, additional means both for keeping said rotary part in place and for absorbing shocks, a lever firmly connected to said rotary part, said lever comprising a removable ball member provided with two projecting flat faces, a nut for justing the ball member, said lever also having a recess and a groove to carry the ball member whereby said flat faces engage the said groove to keep: the ball member in place and means holding the ball member immovable which comprise a pin and elastic means.

which engage said pin with the'nut immobilizing the latter so that the ball member is rendered immovable and any movement transmitted thereto is imparted to the head light.

2. A support for a headlight which com-- prises a stationary part, a rotary part carried by and arranged in said stationary part, ball bearings interposed between said parts, means associated with the rotary part for attaching the headlight, and means for actuating said rotary part, additional means 7 both for keeping said rotary part in place and for absorbing shocks. said means forabsorbing shocks and for keeping the rotary part in" place comprises a conical ring firmly secured to the stationary part, another conical ring contacting with the first ring and ro tatable with the rotary part and vertically movable, a support for said rotary ring, elastic means acting on said support to keep the rings constantly in engagement so that a braking action is exercised when the rings are displaced by shocks.

3. A support for a headlight which comprises a stationary part, a rotary part carried by and arranged in said stationary part, ball bearings interposed between said parts, means associated with the rotary part for attaching the headlight, and means for actuating said rotary part, additional means both for keeping said rotary part in place and for absorbing shocks, said means for attaching the headlight comprise a stationary member having a cut-out portion, a rotary member consisting of a hollow cylinder provided with a bore, a key fitting in said bore and having a cut-out portion corresponding to the inner cut-out portion of the cylinder, said key being introduced in said bore through the cutoutportion of the stationary part, a nut adapted to be screwed upon said key, a bracket carrying the headlight adapted for insertion into said hollow cylinder whereby the headlight is firmly connected to the rotary cylinder when said key and nut are fixed. In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ALPHONSE CHABR-OL. 

